Information: Atropia
Atropia is slowly developing its public broadcast and INFOWAR capabilities, both of which are driven by oil revenue. TV and the Internet are the most powerful media, while Atropian INFOWAR capability focuses on potential threats from Ariana and Limaria. Atropian INFOWAR assets are generally tier two and three, though increasingly tier one elements are being purchased from abroad and integrated into the Atropian military and government.
Contents
Satellite Telecommunications
As a less technologically developed country, Atropia relies on third party satellite services, leasing commercial Ku-band transponders from larger, more developed countries. This capability may also be used to support government and military operations. Analysts assess that Atropia is in the process of developing an independent space program designed to augment economic and commerce functions of the country. However, dual-use technologies that exist would indicate that these satellites could ultimately assist in military operations.
Atropia commercially purchases global positioning receivers that support commercial needs as well as military navigation and targeting operations.
Public Communications Media
Public communications media is growing in importance in Atropia, though most major outlets are controlled by the government or by confederates of the president. The exception is the Internet, where relative freedom exists, but government monitoring for anti-government messages occurs. While social media is blossoming, TV remains the most widely available medium.
Internet
The Internet in Atropia exists in a zone relatively free from state interference or censorship, though evidence indicates some limited state filtering and direct monitoring of political content. Despite this relative Internet freedom, mockery of the government by Atropian users recently resulted in arrest and detention. The Atropian government likely takes a view that as long as Internet activity does not threaten Atropian government interests, it is allowed, but mockery or criticism is forbidden.
Almost 1.45 million Atropians, or over one in every eight of the Atropian populace, use the Internet. Most users access the Internet from cybercafés or their workplaces, as the cost of computers and the Internet connection ($40-50 per month, compared to an average income of $100 per month) preclude personal Internet connections.
The Atropian government maintains centralized Internet control via two governmental Internet Service Providers (ISPs). They, in turn, distribute bandwidth to over 20 private Internet providers.
Television
Atropians receive the majority of theirthrough television. While the Atropian government banned rebroadcasts of foreign-produced English language programs by their local television outlets in December 2008 (presumably due to reporting on government fraud and corruption), the authorities do allow Kalarian state television rebroadcasts. Atropians who live along the southern border can also receive spillover from Arianian television stations. Recent reports indicate that 10 television stations operate within Atropia. The top five television networks are:
- ASTV - Atropian State TV
- PTVA - Atropian Public TV; the Atropian government created PTVA to meet requirements for joining the Council of Europe
- National TV Atropi - Private broadcaster
- DeepSpaceBroadcasting TV - Private broadcaster; owned by the sister of the president
- Atropi Broadcasting System - Private broadcaster; controlled by a cousin of the president
The Atropian television media ownerships’ connections to the highest sectors of government remain quite obvious. Due to the power of broadcast media in elections and the Atropian television stations’ compliant nature, the television media serves as a powerful tool in the hands of the president and most Atropians receive their news through government-controlled sources.
Radio
A variety of radio stations serve Atropia and include state-run, public radio networks and private stations. Additionally, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty operates Atropian language programming, known as Radio Qaja. Radio Qaja broadcasts over the Internet, via satellite, and over shortwave. Ten FM, 11 AM, and one shortwave station are in operation. The top five radio networks are a combination of private and public broadcasters. In Atropia, even private broadcasts have significant ownership links to the ruling family and are generally unlikely to report adverse material about the government.
Print Media
For a nation of its size, Atropia maintains a remarkably large print media establishment. Significant numbers of magazines, newspapers, and news bureaus exist, but must operate within the limits of politically permissible speech. While a nominal freedom of the press exists within Atropia, watchdog groups chronicled recent incidents of journalists killed or imprisoned for reporting that was critical of the government or political conditions within Atropia. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports four journalists killed in Atropia and one death while in prison. In addition to governmental interference, the relatively high cost and low print runs of the country’s magazines make them significantly less important in Atropia than broadcast media.
Three major Atropian news bureaus exist and all offer English, Donovian, and Atropian feeds. More importantly, all generally support the Atropian government, especially on issues that involve Limaria.
A number of magazines offer both online and hard-copy versions. Most print is in the Atropian language, though English language outlets like Baku Post, "Atropian Times", and "Atropian News" exist. Four major Atropian language publications are dominant, though their circulation is primarily among Atropian-speaking expatriates, urban Atropians, and Atropians living abroad.
Telephone
The Atropian telecommunications infrastructure operates through a combination of recently built cellular components constructed over a framework of trunk architecture. Due to the government’s control of landlines and the long wait for new installation, Atropians usually resort to more expensive cellular phones. Trunk connectivity internationally is slowly moving toward fiber optic, including participation in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber optic line, and away from microwave links.
The Atropian phone network will unquestionably operate within the cellular realm in the future. Atropian cellular phone use continues to increase. As of this year, 1.5 million fixed phone lines are in operation, versus over 6.4 million mobile subscribers.
Like many countries, the initial investment for cellular phones (towers) compared to landline phones (fiber and wire, connected switches) makes cellular conductivity clearly superior based on normal return on investment criteria. A public pay telephone network does exist in Atropia and consists of traditional pay phones and call offices where an attendant will place a call for a nominal fee. Atropian culture also considers it polite for businesses to offer patrons phone service, if needed.
Postal/Courier
The Atropian postal service possesses a reputation for lack of service and reliability. A number of international and local courier companies known for better service exist. These couriers include FEDEX, UPS, and DHL. Capabilities are increasing to support the variety of foreign companies engaged in the oil and gas industry.
Word of Mouth
HEY!! Test out the VISUAL EDITOR.
| Number of Book Clubs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | |||
- ACCU Book club - Largest found in the city of Bccu. The ACCU club has 14 chapters in various parts of the city and has been known to take on social action projects in their community[ref 12].
- SAMBU Book club - Smallest group found in the capital city but the most socially active and violent. Espoused support of the Klixon VEO and provides financial and material for attacks on the ACCU book club.
- Hixon-Jones club -
Word of mouth communication in Atropia remains a common method for rural residents to receive their news and information. Within urban Atropian settings, residents often use short message service (SMS) texting and cell phones to replace face-to-face communication. Combined with social media, this combination of Internet and personal communication will be an increasingly important fixture in Atropia. As communications mature in the country, cell phones will likely become more common in rural Atropia. Religious-based appeals are apt to fail outside of the most conservative rural settings.
Information Control
While the government of Atropia does not directly control information flow, the Atropian state- connected elite creates boundaries of “soft censorship,” where free speech includes everything except discussion of the government. Atropians currently push back against this limited censorship, especially with the new social media, in attempts to avoid direct governmental interference with their freedom of speech. It is likely that the Atropian government allows this limited degree of freedom of speech as the leaders know those with computer access (the urban elite) are unlikely to violently rebel.
INFOWAR
INFOWAR in the Caucasus region contains a mixture of old and new technology. While older Donovian equipment forms the backbone for much of the region’s INFOWAR warfighting capability, the countries conduct advanced operations with dedicated INFOWAR units. For example, regional perception management activities, often web-based, form the current global state-of-the-art. Internet operations are frequently used as an adjunct to major combat operations. Most countries in the Caucasus focus their INFOWAR on their likely adversaries.
Electronic Warfare
Generally speaking, the Atropians will operate outdated equipment, such as counter-battery and battlefield surveillance radars. Also, Atropian jammers likely remain relics of earlier buys from Donovians. The possibility exists, however, that improved Atropian relations with Kalaria and Israel could result in newer critical equipment procurement in the future or perhaps limited samples of advanced equipment for operational testing purposes.
Computer Attack
While Atropian hackers actively attack Limarian websites, hard data on their identities or Atropian government involvement remains extremely limited and unreliable. While the Limarians claim Atropian government sponsorship of computer attacks, that evidence remains very circumstantial.
Information Attack
Atropia maintains a limited information attack (IA) capability with the skill to deface websites or engage in basic tactics like distributed denial of service attacks or basic forensics. When compared to aggressive and capable Donovian or Arianian information attack, it appears doubtful that Atropian capabilities will successively deter those of its larger neighbors. It remains possible that any IA will attempt to compromise similar unsophisticated Limarian systems.
Deception
Atropia upholds emphasis on battlefield deception. Atropians will likely uses decoys to great effect, and tactically will use feints and other techniques to prevent the determination of the main effort by their adversaries until the last minute. Atropian overseas defense procurement and training has emphasized the acquisition of the latest reconnaissance and deception techniques and tools to improve their capability at executing deception operations.
Physical Destruction
Physical destruction probably exists as the most developed of Atropian INFOWAR capabilities, as the Atropians mimicked Donovian doctrine that stressed the neutralization of high-value targets like INFOWAR assets through various strike and fires capabilities. Since Atropia finds its military capabilities about a decade behind the current state of the art, the Atropian ability to neutralize enemy INFOWAR remains limited to other militaries with similar capabilities.
Protection and Security Measures
Since so many protection and security measures (PSM) fall under the control of the Atropian Ministry of National Security, it remains probable that 1990s-era security practices continue. The Atropians, through their relationships with the US, probably view the application of integrated Western technology to their systems as a way to safeguard their information.
Perception Management
Perception management exists as the most visible element of Atropian INFOWAR, as the Atropian government expends considerable effort to demonstrate Limarian “terrorism” and “aggression” on websites, public pronouncements, and other official media. Even a brief tour of official Atropian government websites reveals the significance of events in the Lower Janga region. Also, the Atropian government openly acknowledges its recent weapons procurements, especially those from Kalaria and Israel, to demonstrate its strength and military potential to Limaria.
Intelligence
The Atropian government maintains an intelligence service, the Ministry of Security Protection (MSP). Its mission focus is on threats to government control from extremists and unfriendly governments and to ascertain the intentions of Atropia’s neighbors, especially Limaria and Ariana. Its official website states that the MSP maintains responsibility for a number of missions. Unlike the US, where a variety of organizations possesses different roles and missions, the MSP maintains a very broad mandate that includes intelligence gathering; counterintelligence; government information and personnel security; and national-level, anti-organized crime efforts. According to one of the few authoritative sources, the MSP suffers from high turnover and bureaucratic infighting. It remains likely that the general security situation and large number of foreign companies in Baku will create a demand and corresponding higher wages for trained local security personnel. Reports estimate the size of the Atropian intelligence community at about 5,000 personnel. Currently, the leadership of the MSP is slanted toward anti-crime rather than the intelligence collection and analysis element of the organization.
Human Intelligence
Atropia intelligence’s strongest suit focuses on human intelligence (HUMINT) capabilities. As with many countries that have a variety of local threat actors and large neighbors, the maintenance of a strong HUMINT cadre becomes important. Recently, Atropian HUMINT scored some notable successes against Bad Nafar and Arianian-backed extremist elements that operate in Atropia. Additionally, the HUMINT service will probably continue to focus on Limarian actions, especially in Lower Janga. The service will remain focused on religious extremists, both Shia and Sunni, that operate within Atropia.
Open Source Intelligence
Atropian intelligence analysts probably employ open source intelligence (OSINT) to determine the intentions of actors, especially those with significant media reporting, such as Western nations, Donovia, and Ariana. OSINT’s general low cost represents a bargain for Atropian policy makers, as many Atropians possess fluency with Donovian, Persian, and Western European languages.
Signals Intelligence
While Atropia may operate signals intelligence (SIGINT) at the tactical level, it remains doubtful that the government maintains a robust national-level capability for signals collection. The MSP probably maintains the capability to monitor cellular communications occurring within Atropia, and is expected to cooperate with any SIGINT capabilities the Atropian military maintains. The Atropian fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) purchased from Israel may also contribute to SIGINT collection.
Imagery Intelligence
Atropian imagery intelligence (IMINT) probably comes from commercially purchased imagery (one to two meter resolution) and various air-breathing assets, especially a fleet of Israeli-built unmanned aircraft and MiG-25 FOXBAT reconnaissance aircraft. Atropia can also use rotary wing assets, such as the Mi-24 HINDs, as tactical collection platforms.
Measurement and Signatures Intelligence
Atropian resource constraints probably limit its measurement and signatures intelligence (MASINT) to first-generation capabilities, such as basic seismic detection or harbor defense sonar. Additionally, MASINT’s general cost and high analytical requirements probably render it an Atropian future requirement rather than a current operational need.
Summary
Atropian media and INFOWAR capabilities will continue to mature, and Atropia will develop increased capabilities as oil revenues drive increased disposable income. On the media side, social media will become the most free and most dynamic part of the Atropian information environment, and Atropia will develop better INFOWAR capabilities, likely by importing equipment, due to its experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and the continuing Arianian threat.